Hand soap flaking and dispensing apparatus



Feb. 23, 1954 D. DE G. CUYLER HAND SOAP FLAKING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1949 49' .Z' "ff ATTORNEY D. DE G.CUYLER HAND SOAP FLAKING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Feb. 23, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1949 IN VEN TOR. 0A W0 05 GUEJCA //v umEmA TIOE/VEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE David DeGuesclin Cuyler, Mamaroneck, N. Y.

Application January 19, 1949, Serial No. 71,578

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a soap flaking apparatus and dispenser of thetype which may be carried in the pocket.

In washing the hands, in places other than a home, or office, in whichadequate toilet facilities are available, it is often difiicult toobtain a supply of soap.

This'is particularly true of public wash rooms, such as those inrestaurants and gasolene filling stations, or in country places in whichsoap is frequently not available.

Even where one carries a cake of soap, it becomes a problem to properlyprotect the clothes from the soap cake, after it becomes wet in use.

While soap dispensers and soap flaking machines of various types areavailable, they are generally attached to a washstand, or otherwisemounted in a wash-room, so that they can be used only in the place inwhich they are permanently attached.

It is frequently necessary to have available a personal supply of soap,in fiake or other convenient form, which can be carried in a pocket orhandbag, so that it is convenient for use at all times.

The object of my invention is to provide a soap flaking unit anddispenser, which is small, compact, and can be carried in a pocket orhandbag. A further object is to provide a soap flaking unit, in whichthe cake of soap can be readily replaced without tools or specialskills.

A further object is to provide a soap flaking apparatus, in which a cakeof soap is flaked, in the quantity required for each application, thusreducing the waste to a minimum.

A primary object of my invention is to produce a soap flaking and supplyunit, which is light in weight, small, compact, and can be operatedwithout delay by a person, who is relatively unskilled.

A further object is to provide a unit which is inexpensive to produce,can be handled and operated by a person with wet hands, and can betransported with a minimum of inconvenience.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment and severalmodifications of my invention, together 'with the description of theirconstruction and the method of operation thereof, will serve to clarifyfurther objects and advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the soap flaking unit anddispenser.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the unit of Fig. 1, with the lower capremoved.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken at 5--5, Fig. 2, showing theinterior of the unit.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, taken at 6-45, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section thru the body of the unit, taken at 1-1, Fig.1.

Fig. 8 represents an enlarged section thru the soap lifting knob, takenat 8-8, Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 represents an enlarged side elevation of one type of soap-flakingrotor, fitted with longitudinal slots.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section thru the rotor of Fig. 9, taken at IDIU, Fig.9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of a modifled type of soap-flakingrotor fitted with longitudinal spiral slots and cutting edges.

Fig. 12 is another modification of the rotor of Fig. 11, in which thespiral slots form a sharper angle with the rotor axis.

Fig. 13 is a section thru the rotor, taken at l3-l3, Fig. 12 showing theform and spacing of the cutting edges and the spiral slots.

Fig. 14 is a section, similar to Fig. 13, showing a modified type ofslot and cutting edge.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged side elevation of another modification of therotor, fitted with a plurality of spiral slots.

Fig. 16 is a cross-section thru the rotor of Fig. 15, taken at lE-IG,Fig. 15, showing the slot spacing and the form of the cutting edge.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged side elevation of another embodiment of therotor, in which a plurality of substantially circular openings is formedin the rotor.

Fig. 18 is a section thru the rotor and rotor openings, taken at l8l8,Fig. 17.

It will be understood that the following description of the constructionand operation of the pocket SOap flaking apparatus and dispenser, areintended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same partsthroughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

The unit, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises essentially ahollow casing ID, of substantially rectangular cross-section, the upperend of which is rounded to receive a substantially tubular rotor H, therotor engaging the top of a cake of soap H, or similar cleansingmaterial, slidably fitted to the interior of the casing. The casing maybe molded in one piece of a plastic material, or formed of sheet metaldepending upon the size of the unit and manufacturing expediency.

A cap 13, the flanges of which are pressed into the opening at thebottom of the casing is fitted into the lower end of the casing, toclose the opening. The flange sides and i6, accurately fit the spacebetween the vertical walls ll, 18 and iii of the casing, to enable thecap to be snapped into place, thus retaining the cap in the closedposition, and retaining the soap cake in the interior of the casing. Theouter edges of the plate 29, of the cap, are knurled to facilitateremoval and insertion of the cap. The cap may be moulded in one piece ofa plastic material, or made of any other suitable material.

A sliding knob 22, the body 23, of which, is slidably fitted into alongitudinal slot 24', formed in the forward vertical wall IQ of thecasing; may be mounted at one side of the casing, as indicated in Figs.1, 7 and.8.,..

The knob comprises a head 25, in the form of a thin circular disc, theouter circumference of which is knurled to facilitate handling, theheadbeing formed integral with or attached to a substantially cylindricalbody 23, the diameter of which is less than the Width of the slot 2t, tofacilitate the sliding movement.

'A soap gripping element 26, of substantially circular, or othersuitable cross-section, may be attached to the free end of the neck byriveting or other suitable'means.

The edge 2'1, of the inner circumference of the gripping element, isthinned down to a substantially sharp edge, as indicated Fig. 8,,thethin edge being imbedded in theside ofthe soap cake in order to grip thesoap toenable it to be manually lifted by means of theknob.

The length of the cylindrical body 23 or" the knob is made greater thanthe thickness of the forward Wall 53 of the casing, to enable the op.-

erator to press the gripping edge into the side of the soap cake afterthe soap is inserted in the interior of the casing.

The soap cake is thinner than the space between the forward and rearWalls 18 and 19. of the easing, to enablethe soap to be slid intoposiden in the casing, when the sliding knob is held in the outerposition, shown in Fig. 6.

After the soap is slid into the casing, the slidin; knob is pressedinward, the thinned edges-21' of the gripping element being imbeddedinto the soap, as indicated. in Fig. 8.

As indicated in Fig. 6, a thin walled tubular rotor l I may be mountedadjacent the semi-cylindrical upper Wall 29, of the casing. A pluralityof openings 39', Figs. 5 and 17, may be cut thru the outer circumferenceof the rotor, a thin cutting lip 3t; being formed at one side of thesubjfs tanti'ally circular openings, the wall thickness 32,

of the rotor at the opposite side of the circular opening being reduced,to p'royi declearance for -.the soap flakes, thus enabling them to passthru theope'nings' into the interior of the rotor.

The soap'cake i'Zis pushediipward by means of the sliding until theupper edge of the soap, engagestheputer circumference of the rotor, thecutting lips fi I atone side of the openings in the rotor, cuttingintothe soap to form thin flakes which passthru the openings 38 into theinterior ofthe rotor.,, W V 1 ,..,,,One side. of the rotor is closedby ahead 32, formed integral with, the rotor body, as indicated shorter thanthe 'evereiir reterieiig ii, in s i the edge oft 4 of the rotor tubebeing left open to facilitate dis- Charging of the soap flakes.

A knurled cylindrical knob 34, may be attached to the rotor head 32 bymeans of a stem 35, formed integral with the knob, which is fitted thruan opening formed in the wall, and riveted over the rotor wall, asindicated in Fig. 6. The 'rotor is manually rotated in the directionshown by the arrows, Figs. 10', 1'6 and 18, by means of the cylindricalknob 34, the soap flakes passing thru the openings 36 in the rotor, intothe interior of the rotor, while the casing is held in a substantiallyvertical position. After the required quantity of soap flakes is formedin the interior of the rotor tube, the tube may be tilted thru an angle,the flakes dropping thru the open end '33 ofthe'rotor tube to the palmof the hand, or. other point at which the soap flakes are to be used.

P sa; t 15 ho r t ns... edifi iens .iqii

.0- viding solid sections 39'""iid '40, at -1E: th ends'ef the rotor,

fAn exte sion or up side or each or the slot terme dicateldin re; 10,net, to provide .a

cutting edge "to cut the He. s from the top of the soap cake.

ff'ormedj thru the outer'rot'or wall.v The slotsfdrm an anglewith thehead 32', at the end of the rotor, a solid section 44 beingforine'dbetwe'en theends of adjacent slots', to maintain the strength ortherot'orbody.

V Fig. 13 showsa, seern thru lth'e' rotorslots of Fig, I2, the sl otsforming, anene e With tl'ie rotor axis. 'An extension or lip {ll may beformed at one side of each of the slots as indicated in Fig. 13, theedge of the lip being sharpened to provide a cutting edge. I In anothermodification'of the rotor siots, as indicated in Fig. the edge at oneside of the slot projects very slightly beyond the outer circurnferenceof the rotor, with a short sharp .edge 41,; or extension formed at theouter edge of the Wall of the slot; The wall thickness. of the tube atthe oppositesideof .the slotmay be reduced, asindicatedin Figdi,toprovidelearaims for. the. soap .'flakes,-.cut by .the \cuttingedge, inpassing thru the slots to the interior of the rotor..-

circumf r nce, t e lO iiQmfl n an an e .With

the rotor axis. A solidsegtiop lfihsimilarto-that shown irrjig. 12, isformed between the ease of adjacent slots. In the cross-section thru therotor, as shown in Fig. 16, the cutting edge of the slot, issubstantially flush with the outer circumference of the rotor. The wallthickness 5!, at the opposite side of the slot, is reduced in the mannershown in Fig. 13, and previously described. In all other respects theslots are essentially the same as those shown in Fig. 10.

While the casing It is shown of a substantially rectangularcross-section in 3 and '7, casings of other suitable cross-section maybe substituted to provide for particular applications, or to fit specialforms or sections of soap cake.

The casing ll shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and the lower cap i3, are molded ofa plastic material, the entire casing being molded in one piece, withthe cap fitted to the open end of th bottom.

A casing formed of sheet metal. sections welded, soldered, or otherwiseconnected to form a unit,

or a die-casting, made of an aluminum alloy may be substituted in place0:? the plastic casing, depending upon the size of the unit, thedecorative effects desired, and cost considerations, which would combineto determine the shape of the unit, the material utilized, and themethod of manufacture.

Although a sliding knob is fitted to the side wall of the casing, andembedded into the soap cake to manually move the upper edge of the soapinto engagement with the rotor, other methods of controlling themovement of the soap cake may be substituted to suit particularrequirements.

Spring-actuated devices of various types, or other types of automatic,semi-automatic or manually-controlled devices may be utilized to pressthe soap into engagement with the rotor, located near the top of thecasing,

It will b apparent to those skilled in the art that my present inventionis not limited to the specific details described above and shown in thedrawings, and that various modifications are possible in carrying outthe invention without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A pocket type combination soap flaking and dispensing apparatus,comp-rising a hollow casing of rectangular cross-section, said casingbeing adapted to slidably retain a cake of soap, one end of said casingbeing outwardly semi-circular in cross-section in a plane perpendicularto the longitudinal casing axis, one wide Wall of said casing having alongitudinal slot therethru, a substantially tubular rotor fitted withinthe semicircular end of said casing the rotor axis being substantiallyperpendicular to the wall slot, a head formed integral with one end ofsaid rotor, the opposite end being open, said rotor having a pluralityof spiral slots, formed thru the outer wall thereof, with a solid wallsection formed between the ends of adjoining slots, the sides of saidslots being angularly disposed to the rotor circumference, a cuttingedge formed at one side of each of said slots, the wall at the oppositeside of said slot being bevelled, to provide clearance for the soapflakes, a knob attached to said rotor head for manually revolving therotor, a sliding control knob having a portion thereof fitted thru thecasing wall slot, a cupped substantially circular soap gripping elementattached to the control knob, inside the casing wall, the inner edge ofsaid gripping element in a plane parallel to the slotted casing wallbeing sharpened to grip the soap cake, said knob and gripping elementco-operating to manually slide one edge of the soap cake into engagementwith the rotor circumference, the cutting edges of the rotor'cutting thesoap into flakes, the soap flakes passing thru th slots into theinterior of the rotor, when the rotor is manually revolved, said flakesbeing discharged thru the open end of the rotor when the rotor andeasing are tilted.

2. A pocket type combination soap flaking and dispensing apparatus,comprising a relatively fiat hollow casing of rectangular cross-section,said casing being adapted to slidably retain a cake of soap, one end ofsaid casing being outwardly semi-circular in cross-section in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal casing axis, one wide wall of saidcasing having a longitudinal slot therethru, a substantially tubularrotor fitted within the semi-circular end of said casing, the rotor axisbeing substantially perpendicular to the wall slot, a head formedintegral with one end of said rotor, the opposite end being open, saidrotor having a plurality of substantially circular openings formed thruthe outer wall thereof, with cutting edges formed integral with saidrotor, at one side of said openings, a knob attached to said rotor headfor manually revolving the rotor, a sliding control knob having aportion thereof fitted thru the casing wall slot, a cupped substantiallycircular soap gripping element attached to the control knob, inside thecasing wall, the inner edge of said gripping element in a plane parallelto the slotted casing wall being sharpened to grip the soap cake, saidknob and gripping element co-operating to manually slide one edge of thesoap cake into engagement with the rotor circumference, the cuttingedges of the rotor cutting the soap into flakes, the soap flakes passingthru the openings into the interior of the rotor, when the rotor ismanually revolved, said flakes being discharged thru the open end of therotor when the casing is tilted.

3. A pocket-type combination soap flaking and dispensing apparatus,comprising a relatively flat hollow casing of rectangular cross-sectionin a plan perpendicular to the longitudinal casing axis, said casinghaving a pair of wide walls, with a pair of relatively narrow wallsperpendicular to the wide walls, said casing being adapted to slidablyretain a cake of soap, one end of said casing being outwardlysemi-circular in cross-section in a plane parallel to the longitudinalcasing axis, one wide wall of said casing having a long, substantiallyvertical slot therethru, a substantially tubular rotor fitted within thesemi-circular end of said casing, the rotor axis being substantiallyperpendicular to the slot thru the wide casing wall, a head formedintegral with one end of said rotor, the opposite end being open, saidrotor having a plurality of openings thru the outer circumferencethereof, the sides of said openings being angularly disposed to therotor circumference, a cutting edge integral with the rotor formed atone side of each of said openings, a knob attached to rotor head formanually rotating the rotor, a control knob slidably mounted outside thewide casing wall adjacent the vertical slot, said control knob having areduced diameter portion thereof slidably fitted thru the casing wallvertical slot, and a substantially circular gripping element attached tothe reduced diameter portion of the control knob adjacent the innersurface of the casing wall, said gripping element having a thinned edgearound the outer circumference thereof, the thinned edge of saidgripping element being located in a plane parallel to the wide slottedcasing wall, the inner surface of the

